The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-18
A BRAVE YOUNG MAN.
A War Tale OF the Evacuation of
Corintn Miss.
z. 4. z. IN The Americlts RecOrGer.

r. 4. r. an the Americus Recorder.
When Gen. Bragg's army evacuated
Corinth. Miss. in 1862, there was great
deal of sickness among the soldiers, nearly
one-fourth of the army being unfit for SER
vice
Capt S. r. Weston, of Company H, Fifth
Georgia regiment, and myself belonging to
Company Z, same regiment, were on the
sick list and not able to march, but still able
to do light duty. So we were put in charge
of the sick of our regiment, who were to be
sent down on a separate train. While we
were at the depot getting the men
aboard and looking to their comfort
we noticed another squad to our left,
as we faced the town, loading another train
with quartermasters and commissary stores,
and everybody seemed to be in a hurry and
in some confusion. Every straggler was
put TO work, and many of the sick were
made to work who ought to have been in
bed. Some boiSterous. overbearing fellow
was bOssing the Job and if he ordered man
to go to work and he refused he reported
him at once to Gen. Bragg, who seemed to
be experimenting the whole movement in
person.
Finally young soldier came along on his
way to the cars for the sick. He appeared
to be about 90 years of age, tall and hand
some, but pale and delicate. The man Tor
brute) commanding the work squad saw
him. and yelled out:
Say, young man, fall in here and go to
work. Heave these goods into these cars,
and be quick about it"
The young man replied:
II am not able to work If | were 7
would be with my company"
"Eh? Won't work, ell? Well see about
that. Generalin he followed out to Gen.
Bragg, who was passing, ''here's man who
70 y
stood as firm as rock. Gen. Bragg stopped
and gazed at the young man. his eyes
blazing as no other mans eyes can blaze,
and repeated the order TO help load those
cars at once. The young man repeated his
former answer, that he was not able to
work; had he been able to work he would
be able to march and would be with his
command.
The Generals eyes seemed to flash fire as
he exclaimed:
What! You dare disobey my ordersn'
II do" calmly replied the young man.
The General called a lieutenant of a Lou
isiana company Of regulars doing guard
duty, and said:
Take six of your company and carry this
man to that grove and shoot him."
The Lieutenant called out six of his men
and ordered them to load their guns, and
while they were doing so Gen. Bragg beck
oned the Lieutenant. stepping behind gar
den wall, spoke to him in a low tone not
heard by anyone else, and walked away
The guard marched the young man to the
grove, about 100 yards to our right, and
placed him upon a stool against a large oak
and started to blindfold him, which he
would not permit, but took off his gold
watch and chain and fine gold ring from
his finger, handed them to the Lieutenant,
and requested him to send them to his
mother, at the same time writing her name
and address ON piece of paper and hand
ing it to the Lieutenant, resumed his posi-
ton against the tree, and with a proud
smile upon his lips and without a tremor in
his voice, he said
''Now sir, l am ready
The Lieutenant stepped off ten PAGES,
brought his men to attention. and COM
manded, in a loud voice, distinctly heard by
us: Ready Aim"
/ became so weak thought should faint
and caught hold of a small oak for support
and closed my eyes to shut out the awful
deed There sat the young man, gazing into
the muzzles of six muskets pointed at his
heart, a single one of which might send his
soul into eternity in the twinkling of an eye
He looked on as calmly as if he was looking
at camera, and was simply having his
photograph taken. But the Leutenant's
next command was: Recover armsr'
which was willingly and promptly obeyed.
l.
young man, babe him rise, grasped his
hand in admiration, returned his watch and
ring which he received with polite bow,
and the word thanks and walked away
as unconcerned as if nothing unusual had
occurred.
The Lieutenant and his men returned to
their former position, in few PAGES of
where we were, and pretty soon Gen Bragg
returned and asked:
Where is the boyer
''Gone," said the Lieutenant.
What did you dog asked the General
Just exactly as you directed, replied the
Lieutenant. He handed me his watch and
ring to send to his mother, took his position,
refused to be blindfolded, said he was ready,
and never batted his eyes even when we
were at aim He's the bravest.. man | ever
saw in my lifen' And tears came into the
Lieutenant's eyes,
''Who is he, and where is he?n demanded
the GENERAL evincing much interest and
looking in every direction.
Il don't know answered the Lieutenant.
Here's his mothers name and address,
handing him a slip of paper. He glanced at
it, put it i'll his vest pocket and said:
well, find him. I'll promote him." And
away they went to find the young hero.
But whether they ever found him, and if
So what came of it, l never knew.
When Gen. Bragg first gave the order to
shoot the young man, suppose there were
100 soldiers who heard it. They soon scam
pered away, some to work, some TO hide out,
and others---too sick to do either-took the
places assigned them in the cars. And only
Capt. Weston and myself, and perhaps two
or three others, watched this episode to the
end. Those others all thought, and those
still living, think till this day that Gen.
Bragg had that young man shot Bragg
was indeed severe disciplinarian, but not
so bad at heart as many deem him